by Melody Anne
“You suck, Max,” Trenton called out, earning his brother a glare. The buzzer went off, and Cassie called out.
“Elephant.” The girls cheered when Max glared at his partners, before nodding his head at the women.
“Great job, Cassie. We won!” Jessica shouted as she jumped from the couch and did a little dance. Alex quickly grabbed her up in his arms and gave her a long kiss, which quickly became heated.
“Don’t mind us,” Max said with a laugh. The two of them broke apart, but it was obvious they were done with the games and ready to be alone together.
“Thanks for putting this all together, Max. I haven’t had so much fun in a while,” Jessica told him before first giving him a hug, then Cassie. Everyone went around the room, saying their goodbyes and promising to make the game night a monthly thing.
“I love my kids more than anything, but having adult time is just too much fun. It makes me feel young, again,” Amy said as she and Lucas also got ready to head out.
It took about ten minutes for everyone to say goodbye, then Cassie found herself alone with Max once again. She couldn’t believe how exhausted she was, considering she’d slept on and off for about twenty-four hours. Her foot was starting to hurt, too. It looked like it was time for another pill and then bed.
“I shouldn’t have kept you down here so long. The time tends to get away from me when we’re all together like that,” Max apologized. He slipped his arms under her, and carried her up the stairs. She was amazed he didn’t even breathe heavily after reaching the top of the stairs. She knew she wasn’t huge, but it was a long set of stairs.
“That was the most fun I’ve had in a long time, thank you,” she said with a bright smile. His eyes locked on hers, and his head slowly bent forward. Her arms were wrapped around his neck and it seemed the most natural thing in the world for him to take her lips in a soft kiss. She didn’t even think about protesting.
He started soft and sweet, then his grip tightened on her, and his mouth became more aggressive, as he started demanding a response from her. She pulled his head even closer, and slid her tongue along his lips, loving the taste of his slightly minty breath. She felt her body respond to his touch, and forgot all about her foot hurting. She had nothing on her mind but Max’s kiss, and his arms wrapped around her.
He pulled back, and both their breaths were labored as they looked into each other’s eyes.
“I think you’re going to be the death of me, woman,” he said with a grin. He bent down and gave her one more chaste kiss before taking her in the bathroom and setting her on the tub. He really was considerate of her needs.
She quickly got ready for bed, anticipating the night to come. She needed to make love to him again, she didn’t care if her heart would shatter when it was over. She refused to think about tomorrow, she would only think about right now, and right now she needed him to relieve the ache in her body.
Max came back and she tried to show him with her expression how much she wanted him – how she wanted their wonderful night to end. By the flair of passion that ignited in his eyes, he got the message. He picked her up and carried her to the bed, where he laid her down, before stripping his clothes and joining her.
No words were spoken as they embraced, both of them staying up long into the night, not seeming to ever be able to get enough of the other.
Chapter Ten
Cassie’s time was almost up. Her month had flown by, and now it was time for the birthday party. She’d get the rest of her information for her article, then there was no other reason to be with Max. She was surprised by the rush of pain the thought caused. Her foot was much better. She could easily walk on it, though it still caused a bit of pain. She wasn’t going to run a marathon anytime soon.
Cassie looked around Max’s room with a mixture of feelings. It was her last night in his house. She’d tried to leave days ago, but he’d insisted on her staying. He blamed her injury on himself, since he was the one who had her come to the construction site. She couldn’t complain about how well he’d taken care of her.
He’d been so unlike the corporate shark she’d first met. He insisted on drawing her baths, preparing her food, and making love to her nightly. No words were said about any kind of permanent relationship or a relationship, period. They were just sort of taking advantage of being thrown together in the unusual situation. She’d never had a casual affair before. She’d actually only been with one other man sexually, back in college, and it had been a train wreck.
She’d dated the guy for several months, and he’d pushed her until she’d finally caved in. The experience had been so awkward and miserable they’d broken up soon after. She’d been relieved to see him go.
Until making love with Max she hadn’t understood the whole appeal to sex. She didn’t know it was possible to feel so many sensations all at once. She’d grown to appreciate her body, and what he could draw out of it. She would miss the sex, but even more than that, she’d miss lying in his arms afterward, talking late into the night.
Cassie firmed her shoulders and walked from the room. She couldn’t dwell on things she had no control over. She wasn’t a naïve little girl. She was aware of the score in having sex with a man who was a known playboy. The biggest mistake she’d seen several women make was going into a relationship thinking she could change the man. It never worked.
“You’re stunning,” Max said as she slowly descended the stairs. Amy had dropped her off a dress, knowing she wasn’t up to shopping at the moment. Cassie loved the silky material of the light blue dress. It matched her eyes to perfection and clung to her in the bodice, then flared in a flirty skirt to rest right above her knees. She felt beautiful, which was rare for her.
“Thank you,” she replied, her cheeks heating as he continued to stare. He was making her a bit nervous as his eyes raked over her from head to toe. She finally reached him and he immediately pulled her into his arms, running his hands over the silky material at her back, slipping them inside the low cut material.
“We’re not going to get to the party on time if you keep doing that,” she said with an almost sad smile. She’d like nothing more than to go back up the stairs and fall into bed with him.
“Birthdays are highly overrated,” he murmured as he nibbled on her neck. His words made her laugh. Oh, her heart ached as she thought about the endless nights without him.
“I think your family would hunt you down if you didn’t show,” she warned him. He kissed her once before pulling back.
“You’re right,” he conceded. He took her hand and they walked out the door, where a stretch limo was waiting, with a man holding the back door open. She looked at Max in question. “It’s a special night, I thought we’d do it in style,” he said.
Max helped her in the car, and poured her a glass of champagne as they started moving. She’d never liked the taste of champagne but it was so romantic to sit in the intimately lit car, and sip a glass with the man she loved.
Cassie’s eyes widened at the thought. She loved him. She couldn’t believe she’d be so stupid as to fall in love with a man who went through at least a dozen different women a year. She looked out the window, taking a moment to come to terms with her feelings. She couldn’t let him see the pain shining in her eyes.
She decided she’d enjoy her final night with him, definitely not let him see how she was feeling, and walk away with her head held high and her pride still intact.
They arrived at the impressive Anderson Mansion, and she stepped from the car, looking at the huge walls of stone. It looked as if it should be sitting on a hillside in Scotland, surrounded by a moat, filled with man-eating piranhas, instead of a secluded piece of ground in Seattle.
Max led her up the stairs and they went inside, her eyes roaming the giant entranceway and the chandelier hanging from the three story ceiling. She wouldn’t be surprised if the impressive light came from an old medieval castle.
As they made the trek toward the back of the house, whe
re she could hear the sounds of the party reaching them, her stomach became more nervous. Her only thought was that she didn’t belong. She was way out of her element in the luxurious home, with the billionaire family.
As they stepped into the room, she looked around in awe. Her nerves settled a bit. She’d thought the women had exaggerated when they said the more people, the happier Joseph was. The room was filled with guests in all forms of dress. She almost felt a bit overdressed, until she saw Amy rush through the crowd in a floor length red gown. She looked stunning. If Cassie ever had children, she hoped she maintained as beautiful a figure as Amy.
“You’re late,” Amy said as she gave them both a hug. “Come with me. I have many people for you to talk to. The boys will take care of Max,” she said as she grabbed Cassie’s hand and dragged her through the crowd.
Over the next couple hours, Cassie was shuffled from one group to the next. It was humbling for her to see how nice everyone was, when she would’ve thought she couldn’t possibly fit in. She felt like a reverse snob, and it didn’t feel so great. She’d make up for her earlier thoughts, by letting the world know who the Andersons truly were.
She finally managed to sneak away and went to the bar and got a Sprite. She was hot, her foot was starting to ache, and she wanted to find a quiet corner to sit down and write her many notes. Max’s family and friends had been more than happy to share every conceivable story they could think of about him. She’d learned everything from his first word, to what age he was when he had his first kiss. One of his siblings had even passed her a picture of him from his freshman year of high school, looking incredibly skinny with way too much hair. She couldn’t help but smile. He’d been telling her the truth, after all.
Cassie glanced at the crowd, and as if they were physically connected, she immediately found Max. He was so handsome in his slacks and button up shirt. He’d loosened his tie and undone the top buttons, showing a glimpse of his magnificent chest. She could easily undress him the rest of the way with only her eyes. He gave her a smile, shooting awareness through her body, and she quickly turned away. She was trying to get her hormones under control, not stay under his spell.
Cassie found a couch and sat down, a silent sigh escaping her. She wanted to put her foot up, but thought that would be rude. It was good enough to get her weight off it. She smiled as she listened to the conversations all around her. Everyone was so happy, laughter ran rampant throughout the room. She was glad she’d come.
“What is such a lovely lady doing here all by herself?” a man asked. She looked up, not recognizing him. He was attractive, normally the kind of man she would’ve been drawn to. He wasn’t over the top sexy, but comfortable, the kind of guy who seemed unlikely to cheat.
“I’m getting off my feet for the first time tonight,” she replied. He took her response as an invitation to sit down.
“I’m Mike. I work for Joseph in the corporate offices,” he said.
“Nice to meet you, Mike. I’m Cassie. I’m interviewing Max,” she responded.
“Oh, you’re the one doing the interview. I’ve heard about that. Are the rumors true? Did you really manage to blackmail Max into the interview?” he asked with glee. His pure joy at the thought made her laugh. He was certainly easy to talk to, as everyone at the party was.
“Yes, all rumors are true. But, I do recommend trying to get the interview without being hit by a car,” she said.
They chatted for several more moments and she found he was pleasant company. She wasn’t attracted to him in the least, but how could she find anyone appealing with Max in the room. She feared he’d set the bar so high she’d never be attracted to another man. That wasn’t a pleasant thought. Just as Cassie was starting to relax, she felt a hand brush against her neck. There was only one man in that room who could cause shivers to rush down her spine from just a simple brush of his fingers.
“You’re glass looked empty, dear,” he said, then bent down and gave her a long kiss that had her toes curling. As he lifted up, he glanced at Mike.
“Hi Mike, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you sitting there,” he said as he sat down and put his arm around her. She was feeling a little light headed until she realized what he said and what he was doing. He was staking his claim. She wouldn’t cause a scene but she didn’t like being treated like a piece of property. Besides that, they weren’t a couple. They were…well, she didn’t know how to define them.
“Thank you,” she mumbled. Mike made some excuse and slinked away. Max had done what he wanted.
“I’m not some possession of yours,” she said with irritation once she knew Mike was out of earshot. Max ignored her words and scooted over, then lifted her leg onto his lap and started gently rubbing her foot. She wanted to yank it away, but it felt so good. She was embarrassed, but not enough to demand he stop.
“Mike is a womanizer. He didn’t need to be talking to you,” Max growled.
“You don’t have the right to tell me who I can and can’t speak to. You wanted me to come to this party and now you’re selecting who I can talk with?” she asked with a glare.
“You can talk to anyone you want…except Mike,” he said as if his words were perfectly reasonable. She gave up arguing, neither of them were willing to concede they were wrong.
“I’ve gotten some great information on you, tonight,” she said with a wicked gleam in her eye. She knew the change of subject was good enough to distract him. It worked. “I heard about your sophomore year, and the tractor…” she trailed off. His eyes narrowed.
“As interesting a subject as that is, I’ll pass on hearing about it again,” he said through gritted teeth. It seemed he wasn’t too thrilled about some of the stories she’d heard. He’d told her she could talk to his family. He was most likely regretting that decision.
“Don’t you want to add anything else for me,” she goaded. She never listened in school when her teachers talked about not poking the bear. But, of course that’s what would make her an excellent reporter. She had to be fearless or she’d never get a good story.
“Just remember our deal about what is and isn’t acceptable to print,” he warned. She had to fight the laughter that wanted to spill from her. He was quite easily riled.
“I need to go thank your Aunt and Uncle for the invitation. Joseph really knows how to throw a nice party,” she said, giving him a break. She was finding it hard to make conversation with him as his hand caressed her foot, then slid up her calf and back down. It was playing havoc with her nerves. But, he could do it forever and she’d be okay.
“This is typical for my family. We’ve been growing larger each year, with all my cousins getting married, having kids, and now my brother joined their ranks. I think my father has the idea that my other siblings and I will follow in our cousins footsteps. Austin, Bree, and I have all talked. We know what our Dad and Uncle Joseph are up to and there’s no way we’re falling into their trap,” Max said.
“Why would your father and uncle have anything to do with you getting married?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I just know that my relatives are falling into marriage left and right, and I don’t know how, but I think my Uncle and Dad are behind it,” Max said, shooting a suspicious glance at the two men, who were currently looking at them.
“I don’t know how it would be possible. I’ve met your relatives and they aren’t forced marriages. It’s obvious to anyone who spends a few minutes in their presence how much they love their wives,” she said.
“There’s no doubt that they’re all madly in love, as a matter-of-fact, it’s quite disgusting to be in a room too long with them, but I know those old men are somehow involved,” Max said with conviction.
“Well…okay,” she said, clearly not believing him.
“We will just agree to disagree,” he said and she had to role her eyes at the over-used line. She was once again getting too comfortable around him.
“I’m going to leave soon,” she told him. She didn’t fe
el like walking around anymore, and the party was in full swing. She knew she wouldn’t last the entire evening.
“Is your foot still bothering you,” he asked with concern.
“It’s not horribly bad, but I just need to get some sleep. My head’s starting to hurt,” she said.
“Let me say goodbye to my Aunt, then we can leave,” he told her, setting her foot down and starting to rise. She reached out and grabbed his arm.
“There’s no need for that, Max. I’m going home to my apartment, tonight. You stay and enjoy your family. I’ll take a cab,” she insisted.
“I brought you here, and I’ll escort you home,” he said with a glare. He certainly wasn’t used to a woman refusing him.
“Max, can you help me with something,” his brother, Austin, called.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes. Don’t go anywhere,” he commanded. She nodded, but didn’t say anything. Of course, she wasn’t going to listen.
As soon as Cassie saw him leave her view, she stood up, testing weight on her foot. It did feel much better after him rubbing it. She made her way across the room, and slipped out the door, pulling her cell phone from her purse as she went. She had to get away, because if he insisted on taking her home she knew she’d easily cave in and spend another night with him.
She stepped out into the cool evening air, glad for the slight sprinkle. The fresh smell of rain helped to clear her head. The cab arrived within ten minutes, which was good. She’d been anxiously watching the door, afraid of Max stepping through at any moment. Hopefully, he would just let it go, and she could get on with her life. She had an article to finish and a job to get. At least she had that to look forward to.
She climbed in the cab and looked back at the impressive mansion as a tear fell. She knew her adventure had to eventually come to an end, but she wasn’t expecting it to rip her heart out.
Max walked into the room, frustrated it had taken so long to get back to Cassie. She was talking as if their time was over, but he was determined to change her mind. There was something going on with them and he wasn’t ready to call it quits. He didn’t care if their allotted time for her interview was up.
